The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-01-13

70 make put lew changes OF management our1nt
the year. The several reports OF the trustee
and various officials Of these institutions am
submitted herewith. They are so complete q:
to make 1t unnecessary to do more than refel
desired.
Your attention is called particularly, however
including a report made to that board by Hon
John W. Andrews and Hon. r. Brinkerhon, act
ing ig as e committee nna appointed Mt ssI by that r. board Z
institutions from the pressure of party politics.
These gentlemen have been long Identified with
had much experience and great opportunity fol
aed to speak on this subject as any gentlemen
Their discussion is therefore entitled to the
most respectful. consideration You will fnt
that they have clearly set forth their views and
the management Of the benevolent institution
out OF politics Is fully endorsed.
They have no relation whatever to any Of the
political differences. Party divisions are never
tration is expected TO be Of the same general
character at oil times. They are, therefore
capable Of being put out of politics, as, on 40
count OF their character, they should be.
The first question is then, whether their man
agement shall be political or non-poitical. Here
e sse1s win u be be ether aiathardi II O. st out. It i IS fSr you to s saS
which 1t shall be. During late years there has
been o compromising policy pursued. The prac
1 LlCS udS De6u u nave OOaTQS OF an OQQ QumO6I
OF enthusiastically fye-and to have q mi
nority representation Of tho party not in power
OF two members. These are called mixed
good results have been secured in this way.
This Is largely Q mistake. The good results
have been due more to the high character of the
men who have held these positions of trust.
So far as the mixed" feature Of the politics
Of the board is concerned, it is almost, If not
bad public service. In almost every instance
OF acknowledgement or mishap of any kind in the
conduct Of any Of the public institutions when
managed by boards OF this character the minor
ity trustees have excused and defended them.
selves on the ground that they and their party
were not in power and therefore not respon'
sfble; and the majority trustees have taken
refuge behind the minority and put forth the
defense that the other party was equally al
fault because their representatives had partici
pated In the wrong. Such were the answers
given when the recent unfortunate management
| Of the penitentiary was called to account. So
impressive an experience should not be soon
A careful study Of this matter has resulted in
those conclusions:
dependent of political changes In State govern.
.. They have no relation to political issues OF
dinerences, and may, therefore,, with propriety
8. Minority representation in mixed boards dc
not accomplish this purpose. The majority will
the benefit Of their party. and when bad results
are obtained they viii hide behind the minority,
! VINO Will plead want OF RESPONSIBILITY.
4. The best system is non-partisan control, in
which neither party will have a majority, but
both win have equal representation and equ:I
responsibility.
8. This control should not be by independent
boards, but by one board of four or six mem.
bers to govern all the institutions Of the State.
intendents Of these institutions, subject to
approval by this board; and the superintendent
Of each Institution should, subject to the same
approval, appoint all the subordinate officers.
b appointing power should also have the
power Of removal, subject to the approval OF
q. The Governor should be ex-oficio a mem.
ber, with power to give q deciding vote in all
cases Of equal division.
secure an equal representation of both parties.
No Governor or superintendent could, II he de-
sired, unduly favor his own party in the ap-
pointments to be made, since all must be con.
sar1ly by the vote Of his political opponents as
cure moro aid from the trustees than is now az
forded to the superintendents in the manage
ment.
qualified and highly honorable men In the vari-
Gus boards. But their duties rarely call them
to their respective institutions oftener than once
Q month. Their visits are generally hurried.
They have but little time to study the wants of
the institution while there. Their time, when
away, is devoted to their W affairs. The con.
sequence Is that they necessarily leave the
management very largely to the superinten-
dent. Fortunately, our superintendent are all
Lucu Oh 'ulRu CQATdCUer ana uLQeSS LOT LQG DOS1-
tions they hold. and consequently, as matters
practice.
But it would be safer and better, II you make
o change, to guard against any danger ON this
account The plan recommended would do this.
The concentration of the management of all
state the constant attention Of the members
to their duties. The discharge Of these duties
would. practically become their chief occu-
patton. They would be constantly in COM
muntcntion with, and in attendance upon,
these Institution. They would shortly become
entirely familiar with all their details, and by
councillors and efacient assistants to the local
officials.
Of suoh q board would have to be paid a salary.
That does not necessarily follow. But II that be
requisite, the objection is not q serious one.
expensive, If at all, than the present system
under which the State pays the expenses Of oil
the many members Of the many boards. But
can well anord to pay whatever may be neces-
sary to secure the most efficient services that
ions of dollars to erect our institutions, and ex-
pend annually nearly &2 900, 900 to maintain them.
Such important interests should be managed and
cared for by the most capable talent, and &C.
It is recommended, therefore, that If you should
conclude to adopt the non-partisan system Of
the government of all under one common board,
such as has been indicated.
You might with propriety confer these powers
bers OF this Board represent both parties equally,
and are men Of high character, already familiar
with the work 20 which they would thus be
called.
Ifyou see 1T to make q change from the present
system, and do not adopt the recommendation
Of either four or six members for each institu-
ton, with the superintendent empowered to vote
in all cases of equal division, since it would be
impossible for the Governor to discharge such o
duty in connection with SO many boards.
1t will be noticed that what has been said re-
lates only to the benevolent institutions. The
Recommendations OF the Board OF State Chair
ties include the penal institutions also. The
principle OF non-partisan management for the
benevolent institutions is approved for the
reason, among others, that not being identified
with political issues or questions, it is both prac-
ticable and proper.
In so far as the same reason obtains, q like ap-
prevail might be given for the penal institutions.
But the reason fails when We come to the ques-
ton of the management of the Ohio penitentiary.
,n T5is 5nf st nai3ics is aSs ns,t; and n IMPORTANTLY a;stIacyy
differences as to the way in which it should be
conducted. 1t continually presents to the peo-
pie Of the State in every canvass a question as
ing its labor, but in other particulars. And the
one party or the other succeeds or fails in at
least some degree with reference to that ques-
Tne party in power is responsible. therefore,
not only for an honest and capable management,
lar views. Being thus responsible, it should
have the control. II it succeeds, it should have
the credit, and all the credit. II it fails, it should
have the blame, and all of it. In other words, it
is true Of the Ohio Penitentiary as Of everything
else that belong in politics. When the one
party or the other is put into power
It is to be assumed that On administration Is
wanted by that party. and according to its
policy and principles, and that party ought to
have the support that comes from thorough
political afiliation and sympathy. When the
management becomes unsatisfactory the people
can make q change.
So long, therefore, as the Ohio penitentiary
remains in politics in the sense that the parties
have defined differences as to its management,
SO long 1t will be impossible, unwise and unjust
to the party in power to give to it a non partisan
government. The true policy with respect to
this whole matter is to put out of politics ana
keep out all that does not constitute the subject
Of political differences, and to keep in politics
distinctly and emphatically all that does. That
which the people do not disagree about, let them
manage in common, but as to that about which
they dispute, let that party have the manage
ment upon which the responsibility has been
imposed.
In this connection, and with reference to this
responsibility, your attention is called to the
reports of the Board of Managers and other